Lord Lieutenant’s Young & Talented Cornwall Fund helping get Cornish writers' ideas out into the world

HELPING Cornish writers thrive, the Lord Lieutenant’s Fund (Young & Talented Cornwall) has awarded eight budding writers a year’s worth of professional mentoring, funding and book tokens.

The recipients come from across Cornwall and represent the wealth of talent the Duchy has to offer. They are Keron Day from Breage, Solly Bowden from Cubert, Alana Menmuir from Truro, Keira Money from Camborne, Charlotte Pace from Newquay, Benjamin Beasley from Callington, Roo Hargreaves from Redruth, and Jessica Payne from Boscastle.

“It’s been a real pleasure to read this year’s submissions,” said author and award curator Philip Marsden. “The standard is very high and each of the writers has already done amazing work. With their mentors’ support, I feel sure they’ll make great progress.”

Colonel Sir Edward Bolitho, Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall and chair of Young & Talented Cornwall, presented certificates to each of the recipients present.

At just sixteen, Alana is the youngest of this year’s cohort. Formerly a pupil at Richard Lander School, she is now studying for A Levels at Truro & Penwith College. Fantasy author Sam K Horton will be her mentor.

“Coming to this event and speaking to the Lord Lieutenant has been really cool,” said Alana. “I want to get my ideas out into the world and being mentored will really help me do that.”

Solly, who has written and directed two films available on You Tube and founded a theatre company, said: “Getting this award is surreal and really weird because I didn’t even finish secondary school.

“I’ve wanted to tell stories since I was very young. No-one in my family writes but they’re great storytellers – especially my nan who comes alive when she’s telling a story.

“I’m so excited because I want to write for a living. Expert guidance is essential and with Carl Grose (of Kneehigh fame) as my mentor, that will come from the very best.”

For Redruth’s Roo, writing and creating art has become a way of making sense of her experiences, emotions and individuality. Her poem ‘The Colour That Caught Me’ is a deeply felt and very evocative expression of a very dark time in her life.

Roo, who will be mentored by poet, writer and performer Katrina Naomi.

They said: “I still can’t believe this has happened. It’s a great opportunity to keep using my voice as an artist to create work that is whimsical and personal, showing both my uniqueness and my mental health struggles. I want my writing to help other people connect and accept themselves.”

It’s the second time that Keira has been given a Young & Talented Cornwall creative writing award and this time her mentor is author Patrick Gale.

“I was sixteen when I last received the award and it was so amazing then,” said Keira. “I’ve been working on a novel for the last couple of years and want to get published. I have the motivational drive to finish it but it’s difficult to know how to move forwards. The experience and outside perspective of my new mentor is exactly what I need to complete a full first draft.”

For more information, visit youngandtalentedcornwall.org